Machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

A. E. LINDNER.

OIRGU AR WARP KNITTING MAGHIN E. No. 606,352. Patented June 28, 1898,.

WITNESSES} k M /NVE 0/? x I; h g

4 TTOHNEY.

(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet. 2.

A. E. LINDNER. CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 606,352. Patented June 28, 1898.

r A TTOHNE c WITNESSES.

(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 3. A.- E. LINDNER. CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE.

52. Patented June 28, 1898.

(No Model.) 6 SheetsShee.t 4.

Y A E LINDNER CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MAGHINB.

No. 606,352. Patented June 28,1898.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model) A E LINDNER CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented June 28,1898.

WITNESSES ARTHUR E. LINDNER, OF l VILMINGTON, DELAlVARE, ASSIGNOR TO JULIU S KAYSER, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

CIRCULAR-WARP-KN ITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming 'part of Letters Patent No. 606,352, dated June 28, 1898.

Application filed September 4, 1898. Renewed January 12, 1898. Serial No. 666,475. (No model.)

To (Z6 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. LINDNER, a citizen of Germany, residing in the city of WVilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circular-Tarp- Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to certain improvements in circular-warp-knitting machines by which the construction of these machines is greatly simplified and the machines enabled to be operated at greater speed than the ordinary straight-warp-knittin g ma- 1 5 chines and by which the knitted warp fabric known as Milanaise fabric can be produced at a considerably less cost than on the straight-warp machines; and the invention consists in its general outlines of a series of reciprocating needles that are guided in radial ways of a circular supporting-frame, the

needles being arranged in groups and supported in sectional carriers provided with shanks which are actuated by means of pro jecting cams that are arranged in a spiral line around a cam-cylinder, to which con tinnous rotary motion is imparted by a suitable transmitting mechanism. The reciprocating needles produce the stitches in connection with fixed pressers and yielding sinkers arranged above the needles, and two series of oscillating thread-guides, which latter are supported by fulcrumed guide-carriers on guide-rings to which an intermittently or step- 3 5 by-step motion in opposite direction to such other is imparted, said guide-rings being provided with supports for the thread-supplying bobbins. Oscillating motion is imparted to 'the guide-carriers, so as to produce the rising 40 and falling of the thread-guides in forming the stitches by an intermittently rising and falling ring that islocated between the guiderings and actuated by an eccentric-cam and intermediate mechanism from the driving- 5 shaft of the machine.

The invention consists,'fnrther,of certain details of construction and combination of parts, which will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.-

5o In the accompanying drawings, which form a partof the specification, Figure 1. represents avertical transverse section of my improved circular-warp-knitting machine on line 1 1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, partly in section, on line2 2, Fig. 1, showing the mechanism for imparting intermittent rotary motion to the guid e-rings in opposite direction to each other. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the eccentric-cam and frame by which the pawls that impart intermittent rotary motion to the guide-rings of the thread-guides are actuated. Fig. 2 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of my machine, showing the means by which reciprocating motion is imparted to the needles. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail sectional views showing the different positions of the thread-guides relatively to the needles, sinkers, and pressers. Fig. 6 is a detail'elevation of a portion of the circumference of my improved knitting-machine, different parts being broken away to show the parts back of the same. Fig. 7 represents an elevation of a fragment of the fabric, a transverse section of one of the needles just back of its barb, and end elevations of the thread-guides, the needle being in its outermost position and the thread-guides being in the positions which they assume above the needle after having shifted horizontally, and the threads to form the next loop being crossed over the upper surface of the shank of the needle. Fig. 8 represents an elevation of a fragment of fabric, the barbed end of the needle and the ends of the thread-guides, the needle being in the posit-ion which it assumes after being partially drawn inward with its barb closed over the crossed threads and the previously-formed loop riding over the top of the barb, the thread-guides being in their lowered posit-ion below the needles. Fig. 9 is a diagram representing the method of forming the fabric in connection with a number of a centraltubular pillar a, having an'en- 10o larged cylindrical top part a, a circular bottom part a and an exterior ring shaped frame a as shown in Fig. 1. The frame A is constructed of metal and of such dimensions as to support on the same the different working parts of the machine. A vertical driving-shaft B is supported in a step-bearin g of the center pillar a and in neck-bearings of the enlarged top part a of the frame A and receives rotary motion byintermediate bevel gear-wheels b b from a horizontal drivingshaft B, which is mounted in bearings 12 I),

tween the circumferential guide-fianges a and a and divided into groups, each group rier 0.

not in acontinuous circle, but the groups of needles form together an equilateral polygonal figure, which figure, however, may be considered as a circle, owing to the large circumference of the machine and for the reason that. the polygonal shape exerts no perceptible influence upon the proper and effective Working of the stitch-forming parts of the machine. Each needle-carrier O is provided with a shank 0 three adjacent needle-carriers being preferably coupled together by connecting their shanks O by a fixed trans- I, verse strap 0 that is attached to the longer shank of the central carrier 0, as shown in detail in Fig. 2". The transverse straps C are secured by sleeve-shaped center portions to the longer shank G which is guided in fixed posts 0 The inner ends of the longer shanks C of the needle-carriers C are acted upon by a series of cams O, that are arranged in a spiral line around the circumference of a cam-cylinder 0 which is located in the enlarged toppart a of the supporting-frame A and keyed to the vertical shaftB. As many cams have to be arranged on the circumference of the cam cylinderv C as there are groups of needle-carriers, each group being acted upon by its own cam once at each rotation of the vertical shaft B. The inner ends of the shanks C are bent either in upward or downward direction as far as required by the relative position of the actuating-cams O on the cam-cylinder C, so that consequently by each full rotation of the cam-cylinder a horizontally-reciprocating motion is imparted to all the needle-carriers of the entire machine. Helical springsO connect the straps O of the needle-carriers with the inner guide-posts C, before described, and hold the rounded-oif inner ends of the longer shanks cams. I

The needles employed are the well-known bearded needles having grooves in their shanks for receiving the beards of the needles when they are pressed down, the shanks of the needles being inserted into leads, which are secured in any approved manner to the needle-carriers.

To the upper circumferential flange a is attached, by fastening-screws d, a ring D, having downwardly-extending needle-guides D,

by which the needle-shanks are separated and guided during their reciprocating motion, and against which the fabric is held during the 1nward movement of the needle. To the ring D are attached radial straps e,which support at their outer downwardlybent ends the downwardly-extending and inwardly-inclined .pressers E, which are beveled or rounded off at their lower ends, so that the boards of the needles can readily pass below the same. The pressers E are also arranged in sections, so

as to form a polygonal figure which correbeing supported by a horizontal needle-car- By arranging the needles in groups the needles are arranged, strictly speaking,

sponds to the polygonal figure formed by the groups of needle-carriers. To each pressersection E is pivoted a sinker-section F,whi.oh

forms a portion of the sinker-ring and which .shanks of the needles.

is provided with as many sinkers as there are needles in each needlecarrier. The lower ends or nibs of the sinkers enter between the This arrangement of pressers and sinkers is shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, '5, and 6.

Outside of and concentric withthe needles,

I sinkers, and pressers are arranged two series 0f thread-guides G, one series vertically beguides Gare arranged on the ends of carrierslow the other, of which two threadguides, one of each series, is arranged for each horizontally-reciprocating needle 0. The threadg, which are fulcrumed to lugs g on guiderings G. The guide -rings G are provided with dovetailed grooves at their under side and are guided on ring-shaped and dovetailed ways giwhich are arranged on the uppersur- ,face' of a circular supporting-frame G The supporting-frame G is mounted on upright pillars G on the outer ring-shaped part a of the supporting-frame A, as shown in Fig. 1.

'jThe adjacent circumferential edges of the fguide-rings G are provided with teeth, the iteeth of the inner ring Gbeing inclined in the opposite direction to the teeth of the outer ring G, as shown in Figs. 2 and 2". Thenumber of teeth of the guide-rings G corresponds Ito the number of needles with which the maf chine is provided, the relative size of the teeth being such that they impart, in connection with actuating-pawls, to the guide-rings G .an intermittent or step-by-step motion in op- ;posite direction to each other, moving the thread-guides of both series in opposite directions from one needle to the next one, and so I on all around the machine. The intermittent or step-by-step motion is imparted to the guide-rings G in opposite directions to each C in contact with the cam-cylinder and the other by means of two pivoted and spring- Tframe G one pawl engaging with the teeth of one guide-ring G and the other'pawl with the other guide-ring G. The pawls g are applied to short cranks g which are keyed to the upper ends of vertical rods 9 which are supported in bearings of the supporting-frame G and of the circular part a of the frame A. To the lower part of each vertical rod g is applied a crank 9 having a slotted end which is engaged by a pivot-pin g at the outer end of a diametrical rod g that is permanently attached to an oblong frame g which surrounds an eccentric g on the vertical drivingshaft B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 2. At each rotation of the shaft B the eccentric g and the intermediate lever mechanisms operated thereby actuate the pawls 9 which simultaneously move the guiderings G for the distance of one tooth in opposite direction to each other, so as to shift the position of the upper and lower thread-guides with respect to the needles at each intermittent motion of the guide-rings G. The direction of motion of the guide-rings G is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2'. The pawls g are held in engagement with the racks formed on the guiderings G by springs 9 applied to the pawls,

and the pawls are moved over the teeth, so as to engage the next adjacent one by the action of the eccentric-cam g, rod 9 and thecranks g and 9 as will readily appear from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The threads. are supplied to the threadguides G from the bobbins orspools M, which are supported on shafts that are suspended from the inner and outer guide-rings G, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The threads are guided in a suitable manner over the guidecarrier g to the thread-guides, and from the same to the horizontally-reciprocating needles. The bobbins are rotated with the guide,- rings G, as they are suspended from the same.

Besides the shifting motion thatis imparted at each rotation of the driving-shaft B to the upper and lower thread-guides G in opposite direction to each other the thread-guides re- I ceive at each rotation of the shaft B also a vertically-oscillating motion, so as to move low the same.

The oscillating motion of the thread-guides G is produced by-a lifting-ringll, which is formed of sections that are intermittently actuated by vertically-guided lifting-rods or stickers h,- the lower ends of which rest on eccentrics h at the outer ends of horizontal shafts h", theinuer ends of which are provided with bevel-pinions 71/ that mesh with bevel gear-wheels 72 on the vertical driving-shaft B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The shafts 7L2 are arranged in radial direction to the shaft B and supported in suitable bearings of the frame A. Six radial shafts-h are preferably arranged as shown in'the drawings, three of which are driven by a larger bevel gear-wheel h that is located next above the eccentric on the shaft 13, while the other three shafts ]L2 are arranged intermediately between the first The the fnlcrumed levers g, so that the threadguides are lowered for supplying the threads into the bearded ends of the needles, as shown in Fig. 5, while the position of the threadguides above the needles is shown in Fig. 3.

The operation is as follows: The needles are moved in outward direction into position to receive the threads, in which position the thread-guides G are both above the needles, as shown'in Figs. 1, 3, and 7. The guide rings are then moved by means of the rackand-pawl mechanism for the distance of one tooth, whereby the thread-guides are shifted horizontally in opposite directions, this movement laying the threads in opposite directions across the shanks of the needles, as shown in Fig. 7. Then by the action of the liftingrings H the thread-guides'are moved downward in vertical direction, passing between the needles and assuming position below the needles, as shown in Fig. 4. The threads bein g then in position for the formation of loops the needles begin their inward movement and the beards of the needles pass over the threads, which are crossed on the shanks of theneedles and engage the pressers E, whereby their points are depressed into the grooves of the shanks of the needles. The loops of the fabric already formed are prevented from being carried inward on the needles by contact with the needle-guides D and the depressed beards enter the last-formed loops, which are at the top of the fabric already formed and draw the threads held in the boards through said loops, which ride over said beards, as shown clearly in Fig. 8. As the outer ends of the bearded needles pass the sinkers said upper series of loops are cast off from the needlebeards by the sinkers, and said loops fall over the threads,which are stretched between the beards and the spools, and new loops are thereby formed. During the latter part of the inward movement of the needles or during the outward movement the yarn-guides rise, and after thecompletion of the outward movement move in opposite directions and fall, thereby laying the yarn on the needles preparatory to the next inward movement thereof. I

In my improved circular-warp-knitting machine the movable parts of thesame namely, the reciprocating needles and the oscillating and intermittently-shifting thread-guidesare actuated by a comparatively simple mo tion-transmittiug mechanism from the central driving-shaft of the machine, while the neetile-guides, pressers, and sinkers are stationary-thalt is to say, without receiving motion.

from the driving-shaftthe sinkers following merely the outward and inward motion of the needles. The fabric obtained is the Wellknown Milanaise fabric, in which the stitches formed by the thread intermesh diagonally with each other, as appears clearly in Fig. 7, in which the threads of the lower series of thread-guides are not cross-hatched, while the threads supplied by the upper series of the thread-guides are cross-hatched.

Owing to the comparatively simple construction of the actuating parts, motion-transmitting mechanisms, and the absence of actuating mechanisms for the pressers and sinkers the machine can be run at high speed, so that a larger quantity of warp fabric can be knit on the same in a given time, as compared With straight-warp-knitting machines of corresponding size and with other types of circular warp-knitting heretofore known.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of reciprocating needles, stationary needle guides, stationary pressers above the needles, sinkers pivoted to the pressers, thread-guides, and means for .oscillating and intermittently shifting said thread-guides, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a cylindrical supporting-frame, having circumferential guideflanges, needle-carriers, guided in Ways of said flanges, needles supported in said carriers, radial shanks applied to said carriers, guides for said shanks, helical springs applied to the guides and the needle-carriers, a central driving-shaft, and cams on said shaft and adapted toengage said shanks and impart reciprocating motion to the needle-carriers, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of two sets of threadguides, carriers for said thread-guides, guiderings on which the guide-carriers are mounted, means forimparting intermittentlya stepby-step rotary motion to said guide-rings in opposite directions to each other, a liftingring on which the ends of the guide-carriers rest, stickers for intermittently raising said lifting-ring, a central driving-shaft,and actuating mechanism between said shaft and the stickers by which an intermittent lifting motion is imparted to the stickers, substantially as set forth. I

4. The combination of a circular bed, a circular series of movable needle-carriers disposed in said bed and provided with inwardlyextending radial shanks, groups of needles disposed in said carriers, a series of cams engaging said shanks to thrust said carriers, means for retracting said carriers, two threadguides, means for oscillating and intermittently shifting said thread-guides, and sinkers.

5. The combination of a circular bed, a circular series of movable needle-carriers disposed in said bed,and provided with inwardlyextending shanks, groups of needles disposed in said carriers, means for operatin g said needle-carriers embracing a separate cam for each needle-carrier, two thread-guides, means for intermittently shifting said thread-guides in opposite directions across said needles and means for intermittently moving said threadguides between said needles.

6. The combination of a circular bed, a circular series of movable needle-carriers disposed in said bed and provided with inwardlyextending shanks terminating in different planes, means for operating said needle-carriers embracing superposed cams engaging said shanks, two thread-guides, means for shifting said thread-guides in opposite directions across said needles, and means for moving said thread-guides between said needles.

7. The combination of a vertical drivingshaft, a series of cams on said shaft, an annular bed surrounding said shaft, needle-carriers adapted to move radially on said bed and engaged by said cams, needles supported in said carriers, ring-shaped guideways larger in diameter than said bed, movable rings mounted on said guideways, thread-guides mounted on said movable rings, mechanism for shifting said rings, and mechanism for oscillating said thread-guides.

8. The combination of a vertical drivingshaft, a series of cams on said shaft, an annular bed surrounding said shaft, needle-carriers adapted to move radially on said bed and engaged by said cams, needles supported in said carriers, ring-shaped guideways larger in diameter than said bed, a lifting-ring, pivoted carriers mounted on said guide-rings carrying thread-guides and having shanks engaging said lifting-ring, intermediate mechanism between said lifting-ring and drivingshaft for raising said lifting-ring to oscillate said thread-guides, and intermediate mechanism between said guide-rings and said shaft for intermittently moving said guide-rin gs.

9. The combination of a vertical drivingshaft, a series of cams on said driving-shaft, a circular casing surrounding said cams and provided with flanges forming an annular bed, needle-carriers adapted to slide radially in said bed and provided with shanks engaging said cams, groups of needles disposed in said needle-carriers, pressers engaging said needles, a series of thread-guides mounted outside said bed, means for lifting said threadguides, and means for oscillating said threadguides.

10. The'combination of a vertical shaft provided with cams, an annular bed surrounding said shaft, needle-carriers disposed in groups and movable in said bed, said groups having shanks engaging said cams, groups of needles in said needle-carriers, and adjunctive mechanism operating in connection with said needles for performing the knitting operation.

11. The combination of a vertical drivingshaft, a series of cams on said driving-shaft, a circular casing surrounding said cams and provided with flanges forming an annular v In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in pres- Io ence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ARTHUR E. LINDNER.

Witnesses:

PAUL G EPEL, CHARLES SOHROEDER. 

